the house has already acted on a bill to avert the fiscal cliff. democrats have no intention of taking up that house bill, which would extend all of the tax cuts into 2013. the approximated says he's not going to do that. plus a senate democrat leader told me there is a possibility of extending tax cuts for those under $250 thoid, but turning off the automatic across the board budget cuts. that will be a temporary measure. and finally, president obama has returned from his vacation in hawaii to try to kick start those talks. but the white house officials tell me there are no signs of progress yet. they have to hope that when members come back to washington on the 27th, that is thursday wblg that both the president, democrats in the senate, republicans in the senate and then both parties in the house can come together on at least a short-term deal. back to you. >> a short-term deal. joining us now is tim stanley, a u.s. historian at oxford university. welcome. >> good morning. >> we've been following this together for the last several months. how do